7 ms·

The bluetooth earbuds are starting to get better. The Bragi Pro is much better than the Dash. I don't have experience with Apple's earbuds but I'm going to gues

The bluetooth earbuds are starting to get better. The Bragi Pro is much better than the Dash. I don't have experience with Apple's earbuds but I'm going to guess users are facing similar issues with bluetooth connectivity and interference issues. I think of bluetooth earbuds as this generations skipping CD's. It's totally unnecessary though. They could have waited.

cartsagis 8y ago
Airpods are fantastic, haven't had any of these issues.
gehsty 8y ago
Airpods are insanely good. Virtually no issues with quality or interference and I got them the day they were released. Bose QC35s are also great, just not as reliable as airpods... one thing with airpods is that I think all headphones know when I take them off and to pause music...
- wlesieutre 8y ago
  The only complaint I've heard about AirPods is the audio quality, in that that they're typical of Apple's earbuds. Better than the $10 generic ones on Amazon, worse than $150 wired earbuds from Sennheiser etc. Bluetooth reliability is better than any other headphones, battery life is impressive for how tiny they are, pairing (with iOS/macOS) works better than other bluetooth devices, the charging case is better thought out than other "true wireless" earbuds. Customer satisfaction surveys are ridiculously positive (IIRC 98% or 99%). I haven't bought them yet myself (just because they cost money), but maybe when the 2nd gen comes out I'll take another look.
  - bdcravens 8y ago
    AirPod battery life isn't great when you're using the mic too (think a Skype call) but the fact that you can use one at a time while other charges makes it pretty manageable.
    - wlesieutre 8y ago
      Good to know. My first thought for using a mic with a phone was for a "phone call" but I guess "skype call" works too ;)
      - bdcravens 8y ago
        I tend to make quick phone calls, but Skype/Zoom/etc on my computer calls tend to be of the 30 min - 2 hour variety, so that's where I see the most battery use :-)
  - dzhiurgis 8y ago
    I can list quite a few improvements to AirPods: * Wireless charging case * More controls (perhaps touch sensitive long-press for Siri) * Better switching between iOS/macOS (or generally - better support in macOS) * Stereo mic support * Native lavalier mic support in iOS camera * Waterproofing * One-device-multiple-airpods support * Much much much lower price * Thinner case * Hearing aid feature (iOS 12 sort of does it via iPhone mic) All that said, it's my favourite Apple product in past decade.
    - gehsty 8y ago
      I think these are fairly minor improvements, most of what makes the airpods great is already there. I’d rule out anything that makes them more complicated (that is their best feature imo) just putting in them and work is amazing, and it’s even better that they pause whatever’s playing when you take them out.
    - theshrike79 8y ago
      I love the fact that the AirPods don't have touch controls. I live in a place where some kind of headwear is required for over 6 months of the year. I can just tap the side of my wool cap with thick-ass winter gloves and it works. If it was touch sensitive, I'd need to take off my gloves, pull the cap over my ear and fiddle with the earpiece. No thanks.
      - dzhiurgis 8y ago
        Not saying that should be taken away. If anything, it needs more gestures, perhaps triple tap for playing previous track?
cycrutchfield 8y ago
Try not to spread FUD unless you've tried them. Airpods are excellent, and Apple was entirely justified in removing the headphone jack.
- atomical 8y ago
  Try not being a jerk.
- zokula 8y ago
  Yeah because Apple removing the headphone jack took lots of Courage didn't it?
  - xvector 8y ago
    From the HackerNews guidelines [1]: > Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say face-to-face. Don't be snarky. Comments should get more civil and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive. > Eschew flamebait. Don't introduce flamewar topics unless you have something genuinely new to say. Avoid unrelated controversies and generic tangents. > Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. [1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
rconti 8y ago
Bluetooth has been great for the past few years (maybe since BT4?) My airpods and qc35 and car integration work FLAWLESSLY. The same can certainly not be said of older generation devices. I returned some Outdoor Tech Chips 2.0 something something helmet speakers that went static-y every time you turned your head the wrong way. The new stuff can work 50+ feet away, through walls, etc.
bdcravens 8y ago
I've had no issues with my AirPods. I believe the W1 chip provides a stronger connection than vanilla BT.

cartsagis 8y ago

Airpods are fantastic, haven't had any of these issues.

gehsty 8y ago

Airpods are insanely good. Virtually no issues with quality or interference and I got them the day they were released. Bose QC35s are also great, just not as reliable as airpods... one thing with airpods is that I think all headphones know when I take them off and to pause music...

wlesieutre 8y ago
The only complaint I've heard about AirPods is the audio quality, in that that they're typical of Apple's earbuds. Better than the $10 generic ones on Amazon, worse than $150 wired earbuds from Sennheiser etc. Bluetooth reliability is better than any other headphones, battery life is impressive for how tiny they are, pairing (with iOS/macOS) works better than other bluetooth devices, the charging case is better thought out than other "true wireless" earbuds. Customer satisfaction surveys are ridiculously positive (IIRC 98% or 99%). I haven't bought them yet myself (just because they cost money), but maybe when the 2nd gen comes out I'll take another look.
- bdcravens 8y ago
  AirPod battery life isn't great when you're using the mic too (think a Skype call) but the fact that you can use one at a time while other charges makes it pretty manageable.
  - wlesieutre 8y ago
    Good to know. My first thought for using a mic with a phone was for a "phone call" but I guess "skype call" works too ;)
    - bdcravens 8y ago
      I tend to make quick phone calls, but Skype/Zoom/etc on my computer calls tend to be of the 30 min - 2 hour variety, so that's where I see the most battery use :-)
- dzhiurgis 8y ago
  I can list quite a few improvements to AirPods: * Wireless charging case * More controls (perhaps touch sensitive long-press for Siri) * Better switching between iOS/macOS (or generally - better support in macOS) * Stereo mic support * Native lavalier mic support in iOS camera * Waterproofing * One-device-multiple-airpods support * Much much much lower price * Thinner case * Hearing aid feature (iOS 12 sort of does it via iPhone mic) All that said, it's my favourite Apple product in past decade.
  - gehsty 8y ago
    I think these are fairly minor improvements, most of what makes the airpods great is already there. I’d rule out anything that makes them more complicated (that is their best feature imo) just putting in them and work is amazing, and it’s even better that they pause whatever’s playing when you take them out.
  - theshrike79 8y ago
    I love the fact that the AirPods don't have touch controls. I live in a place where some kind of headwear is required for over 6 months of the year. I can just tap the side of my wool cap with thick-ass winter gloves and it works. If it was touch sensitive, I'd need to take off my gloves, pull the cap over my ear and fiddle with the earpiece. No thanks.
    - dzhiurgis 8y ago
      Not saying that should be taken away. If anything, it needs more gestures, perhaps triple tap for playing previous track?

cycrutchfield 8y ago

Try not to spread FUD unless you've tried them. Airpods are excellent, and Apple was entirely justified in removing the headphone jack.

atomical 8y ago
Try not being a jerk.
zokula 8y ago
Yeah because Apple removing the headphone jack took lots of Courage didn't it?
- xvector 8y ago
  From the HackerNews guidelines [1]: > Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say face-to-face. Don't be snarky. Comments should get more civil and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive. > Eschew flamebait. Don't introduce flamewar topics unless you have something genuinely new to say. Avoid unrelated controversies and generic tangents. > Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. [1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

rconti 8y ago

Bluetooth has been great for the past few years (maybe since BT4?) My airpods and qc35 and car integration work FLAWLESSLY. The same can certainly not be said of older generation devices. I returned some Outdoor Tech Chips 2.0 something something helmet speakers that went static-y every time you turned your head the wrong way. The new stuff can work 50+ feet away, through walls, etc.

bdcravens 8y ago

I've had no issues with my AirPods. I believe the W1 chip provides a stronger connection than vanilla BT.